Printer admits mistake in seat numbers

Printer admits mistake in seat numbers
*No duplication of tickets: GCA    *Complaint lodged at Margao Police Station
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 29
The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) officials swung into quick defensive action and were able to come out of the piquant situation concerning the alleged duplication of tickets and complimentaries for the ODI between India and Australia on October 24 at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, as it became evident that there was a mistake on the part of the printer concerning the seat numbers in one block only.
The GCA did well in summoning Shashank Tilak from Pune’s Xquisite Print Solutions Pvt Ltd, who are responsible for printing of tickets and complimentaries, to throw light on the serious matter which even forced the association to lodge a complaint with the Margao Police. “We request you to investigate into the matter and if any offence punishable under IPC has been committed by any individual, then appropriate action in accordance to law be initiated,” Prasad Phatarpekar, GCA secretary, stated in the complaint lodged yesterday at 11.30 p.m.
The problem highlighted in today’s Herald was concerning two tickets of Rs 2500 each and two complimentaries (in all, four) which had the same seating numbers F-004 and F-0028, but different serials numbers 09149, 09173 (priced tickets) and 32663 and 32639 (complimentaries).
What came out from the printer Shashank was that there ought to have been 35 such cases after examining the entire gamut of operations following the issue. The mistake was clearly owned by the printer who explained as follows.  “In the South upper wing, Block F had 35 tickets (paid) of Rs 2500 each with seat number from 1 to 35 and serial numbers from 9164, 9180. In the same block K, complimentary tickets were also printed having seat numbers 1 to 170 and serial numbers from 32636 to 32805.” “Each ticket had an electronic tag which was unique and cannot be repeated,” the printer claimed.
There were in all 205 total number of seats available in the block, 35 for tickets and 170 for complimentaries. The tickets were numbered from 1 to 35 and the complimentaries ought to have been numbered from 36 to 205 (170 seats), but were numbered from the first number 1, and hence the duplication of allotment of seats for 35 persons.
When queried, the printer stated, “There were 205 seats for all, but seats from 1 to 35 had become common for both categories and hence the mistake in seating arrangement. All tickets had different serial numbers and hence the total number of tickets and complimentaries stood at 26005. We had also provided the chair stickers for the entire seats exactly as per the tickets printed,” he added.
“There was no duplication of tickets. However, there was a discrepancy on the number of seats only in F Block (South Block, Upper, Gate 3),” explained the Pune-based printer at the press briefing at GCA Academy, Porvorim on Friday.
Shashank presented the details of paid tickets as 9180 (serial number 00001 to 09180) and others from 20001 to 36825 (serial numbers) with total passes being 14320, total officials 1915, press 200, ground officials 250, all open 100, GCA committee 18, GCA staff 22 for a total of 26005.
“This is the first time that such an excellent system has been put to use as all chips were entered into the computer and nobody could get through without scanning,” claimed Shashank. “All serial numbers were different and so there is no possibility of duplication. There is no repetition of serial numbers and so there is no possibility of extra people. Seat numbers can be same if mistakes are there,” he stressed.